News

Norway, Australia Team to Upgrade Missile for F-35

Defense News // September 21, 2015

Norway and Australia have minted a deal to develop a new seeker
capability for the Joint Strike Missile, a core weapon planned for
integration onto Norway's F-35.

Under the Sept. 15 agreement, Australia will finance the development
of a new RF-seeking capability, which will enable the missile to locate
targets based on electronic signature. BAE Australia will develop and
integrate the capability, according to a Sept. 21 statement from
Norway's Ministry of Defense.

If Australia later decides to
procure the JSM, developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence
Systems, Norway and Australia will share the cost of integrating the JSM
on the F-35.

The new seeker will provide JSM dual-seeker
capability, which enables the missile to operate in all weather
conditions, Executive Vice President of Kongsberg Group and President of
KDS Harald Ånnestad told Defense News on Monday. Kongsberg expects the
announcement to fuel increased interest in the JSM from other
international partners, he said.